Why do you want to live in Pattaya?

Pattaya City sits in Chonburi province — one of four Eastern provinces that make up Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, a hub for major industrial estates offering plenty of expat employment opportunities. Dive deeper in to Pattaya? "District Guide" Chonburi province has a population of around 1.6–1.7 million and covers 4,363 km². Thailand’s total population is about 70 million, with roughly three million foreigners living here long‑term. The most popular destinations for foreigners in Thailand are Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai.

Pattaya in Context

Surprisingly, neither Chonburi City nor Pattaya is the province’s largest city by official count — that title goes to Chaophraya Surasak (Sriracha area) with about 145,000 registered residents. Pattaya’s official figure is around 125,000, but the real population is closer to 500,000 when you include unregistered Thai workers, migrant labour, and long‑term expats. That’s on par with Antwerp or Manchester — making Pattaya the biggest city in the region.

Quite a different number is estimated by the National Statistics Office. Probably more realistic if we look at the large numbers of casual Thai workers who work in the city yet remain registered in their hometowns. Migrant workers from neighboring nations and many long-term expatriates who reside in the city as retirees or self-employed or contracted are traditionally not counted. We come to a more realistic count of some 500,000. That’s a similar number as Antwerp (Belgium) or Manchester (UK). So, Pattaya is quite a big city. The biggest in the region. How are living standards in the Chonburi province? Mostly very local. The city of Chonburi is 45 minutes from Bangkok, which you would expect it to make it a kind of suburb of Bangkok city. Yet, it is not. The enormous industrial estates of Amata City and Amata Nakorn (with near 700 factories and a workforce in excess of 200,000 mainly Thais) make the approach of the city very “industrialized”. Not a pleasant sight.

Throughout the region, you will find housing projects by (local-) Thai developers like Supalai Group or Pruksa Group. Nothing fancy there. Condo projects are often low-rise or occasionally massive, like in Chonburi city the Lumpini Condo Town project with 4,181 small units over 19 buildings. It is often here where you find a small foreign community, mostly schoolteachers living in a cheap rental condo. In general home and condo prices are quite affordable – but there is not much choice. Certainly not in the range of luxury properties. Of course, you will find more exclusive and upmarket properties. But these are privately and remotely built dwellings. On some of the golf courses, like Burapha Golf & Resort you will find some nice luxury homes, but high-end projects are simply not there. All communities, including schools and shopping facilities, are very local and in fact great if you want to integrate with Thai society.

What about nice beaches and nightlife? Chonburi doesn’t have a nice beach. The closest option can be found in Bang Saen, which is an hour’s drive from Bangkok and so, quite favorable by Bangkokians. Nightlife, apart from some local karaoke bars and an occasional Thai disco, cannot be found in the province. In fact, there is not much to do. Which is nice for some people that enjoy their privacy and are willing to adapt to local standards. With alternative options in the region, like Sriracha, Laem Chabang, Baan chang, or Sattahip, you would think there is an abundance of choice? Well, let us narrow down this choice: (1) You want to live in a town where you will find yourself frequently stared at as one of few foreigners, or (2) You want to live in a tolerant community with the best of both worlds, able to immerse in a unique Thai culture with access to more than enough things to do. Most people chose the 2^nd option. Pattaya, once a sleepy fishing village, has become a thriving expat community, retirement ‘village’, and tourist destination. Thailand’s most popular destination is also a popular beach getaway for Bangkok residents. Pattaya has matured over the years and continues to develop at a fast rate. Living in Pattaya is favored for that reason. Much different than any other city in the province of Chonburi, Pattaya is a true melt-pot of different nationalities, each with their own motivation to reside in Pattaya. Many expat families, working on any of the industrial estates, have chosen Pattaya because there are excellent facilities (schools, shopping, hospitals, etc.) that meet international standards. Other members of the expat community are retired here, married with a Thai spouse, run a business in Thailand, or just frequently visit Pattaya and have bought a property for the convenience of it.

Property in Pattaya

Pattaya offers a huge variety of pattaya real estate — from luxury estates to modest gated‑community homes, lagoon‑style condo resorts, and high‑rise oceanfront towers. There’s something for every budget and style, whether you’re looking for a condo for sale in Pattaya, a house for sale in Pattaya, or property for rent in Pattaya. Compared to Samui, Phuket, or Bangkok, the cost of living is very reasonable. You can live modestly or go all‑out — Pattaya caters to both.

Where to Live in Pattaya "Click to Choose Your Right Fit"

The city isn’t huge, but it’s diverse:

• Wong Amat — upmarket beachfront living.
• Central Pattaya — in the heart of the action.
• South Pattaya — lively but more local.
• Jomtien Beach — relaxed coastal vibe.
• East Pattaya & Mabprachan Lake — best selection of homes and villas for sale or rent.

To make things easier for you we created this roads map and district guide: https://towncountryproperty.com/district-guide/. Each Pattaya district is “up close and personal”. Of course, here at Town & Country Property, we welcome you to further discuss your options. Author: Mr. KC Cuijpers For more information: Please contact Town & Country Property – [email protected]